Prostitute claims DSK tried to get her a US visa

A prostitute has claimed that Dominique Strauss-Kahn tried to get her a visa
to work in the US during his time as head of the International Monetary
Fund, it has emerged.

Strauss-Kahn, a leading member of the French Socialist Party who wanted to run for President this year, resigned from the IMF last MayPhoto: GETTY

By Peter Allen, Paris

4:59PM GMT 22 Feb 2012

The revelation came as the 62-year-old remained in custody in Lille, northern France, as police continued to interview him about an illegal vice ring based in the city. He could be released as early as tonight.

Strauss-Kahn is facing charges of "complicity in pimping" and "misuse of corporate assets" in the investigation into the prostitution ring which operated out of Lille's upmarket Carlton Hotel. The crimes could see him locked up for a total of 12 years.

Judges have already charged a number of men with organising orgies, and a building company executive is accused of using its money to entertain guests at sex parties held in cities around the world, including Paris and Washington DC.

Strauss-Kahn admits attending many of the parties - but claims he did not know the girls were prostitutes because "they were all naked at the time".

Now it has emerged that one of the women involved claims she flew to Washington DC when Strauss-Kahn was IMF chief.

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There Strauss-Kahn is said to have tried to get her a visa for her to remain in the US, according to a legal source close to the case.

This would have ramifications on Strauss-Kahn's defence as it would prove he was assisting a prostitute in her work - something which is illegal in France.

The allegation that an IMF chief was trying to get visas for prostitutes would also create a huge scandal.

The woman, who has not been named, is said to have documentary evidence, including pictures of her with Strauss-Kahn.

Strauss-Kahn admits taking part in orgies and said he had an "uninhibited sex life", but that he "never paid a centime" for it. "I have a horror of prostitutes and pimping," he said.

Strauss-Kahn, a leading member of the French Socialist Party who wanted to run for President this year, resigned from the IMF last May after being accused of raping Nafissatou Diallo, a 32-year-old chambermaid in a New York hotel. The case later collapsed.